On May 14, 2026, Fortnite servers were taken offline for scheduled maintenance as Epic Games launched the highly anticipated v40.40 update for Chapter 7 Season 2. The downtime began at 4:00 AM ET and is expected to last until around 6:00 AM ET, although it could extend if technical issues arise. This maintenance affects all game modes, including Battle Royale and Creative Mode, disrupting millions of players globally. With an estimated 250 million monthly players, even short outages can significantly impact Twitch streams and esports events. The new update is generating excitement due to rumored features such as a possible crossover with Overwatch, new map landmarks, and gameplay balancing updates. As Fortnite continues to evolve into a live entertainment platform, the anticipation surrounding each update highlights its dominance in the gaming industry. Players can stay informed about server status through official channels like Fortnite Status on X and the Epic Games server status page.